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A. J. MUNSON. ORNAMENTALV INDICATOR FOR WEATHER VANBS.

No. 563,938. Patented July 14, 1896i UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALVIN J. MUN SON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

' 'ORNAMENTAL INDICATOR FOR WEATHER-VANES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,938, dated July14:, 1896.

Application filed. OctoherlQ, 1895. Serial No. 566,217.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN J. MUNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ornamental Indicators forWVeather-Vanes, of which the following is a specification.

As an ornamental device for indicating the four points of the compass, Ihave produced a cluster of bodies, hanging loosely and each having aninitial letter showing the relation of the weather-vane to the points ofthe compass, and giving a beautiful effect in swinging to the wind.YVhile the balls are free to swing to the wind, they may also be free tobe retated by the wind, and I may also make them the carriers ofweather-vanes to indicate the direction of the wind.

In the drawings my ornamental device is shown as mounted upon a standardto which a lightning-rod is secured, but the devicemay be used upontowers, housetops, or other elevated structures, or it may be mountedupon the rod itself.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my ornamental indicating device as it isapplied to a brace or standard for a lightning-rod. Fig. 2 shows theindicator device as it is applied to a lightning-rod, and Fig. 3 showsthe angular standard on which the indicating device is fitted. Fig. 4shows one of the hanging balls provided with the index letter andsurface win gs or fins by which it is rotated under the action of thewind, and Fig. 5 shows one of the hanging balls provided with the indexletter and an indicating-vane.

The rod has the usual receiving and conducting point 1, and may have theweathervane 2, and the rod is suitably secured by a standard 3 to theroof or other part of the building.

The ornamental indicator consists of a fourarmed hanger 4, having ballsor bodies 6, preferably of different colors, forming swinging pendantsto the arms, each ball being preferably provided with an initial letterindicating the east, west, north, and south, respectively.

The ornamental bodies are hung to the arms by a j oint-link that willpermit them to be free to swing in every direction to the wind, and theC E 77 6S 77 (6 N 77 C s 79 rigidly connected to the lower side of theballs to indicate the compass-points. The surface of the balls may beprovided with wings or fins 14, arranged to rotate the ball by theaction of the wind, and when so designed I hang the balls by joints 13,that will permit of both the swinging and the rotation of the balls, asshown in Fig. 4:. Any simple form of joint may be used for this purpose.The surface wind-wings may be dispensed with and each ball may beprovided with an arrow 15, preferably fixed to the lower part of theindex letter to indicate the direction of the wind, as shown in Fig. 5.I11 this function the arrow will turn the ball and the latter will atthe same time be free to swing, because of its swiveled free joint, sothat each ball will indicate a point of the compass by its initialletter, the direction of the wind by its arrow, and swing as anornament. These pendent bodies may be made of glass, colored on theinner side and properly sealed, but they may be made of wood,paper-pulp, or any suitable material, and painted. They can be made withor without the surface fins and the arrows. These swinging bodiespresent an object of beauty and attract attention not only to theweather-vane, but the letters to show the course of the wind and thepoints of the compass.

The hanger has a central collar 5, by which it is secured upon thestandard, or upon the rod, as may be desired.

I prefer to make the hanger-arms of wire strands twisted together andbound around the collar, making a cheap attachment and easily applied.

The lightning-rod is fastened and braced by the standard-brackets 7 and8 through guides in which the rod is fitted.

I make the standard of angular cross-section and the hanger-collar 5 ofcorresponding form to fit thereon, so that the hanger device cannotrevolve.

In addition to the cluster of balls the rod may have a ball 9, restingupon the top of the standard. A tube having a scroll 10 maybe fitted onthe standard as a support for the cluster-bracket, and a collar 16,having a clamp-screw, supports the tube. Asecond two-armed hanger 121naybe supported upon the lower bracket-guide 7 and provided with pendentbodies hung so as to be free to swing to the wind. These severalornaments are adapted to be fitted upon the square standard by slidingthem thereon from the top, and for this purpose the top bracket 8 ismade removable, thus making it convenient and easy to mount the bodies.

In mounting the ornamental device upon the lightning rod, as in Fig. 2,the ball 9 serves to support its tubular collar 5, which may be clampedupon the rod, while the weather-vane rests and turns upon said collar.

It will be understood that the rod is properly insulated at itsconnection with the standard-brackets and that a weather-vane maybemounted upon the rod or upon the standard and used in connection withthe ball-vanes, or the arrow 2 may be dispensed with.

I claim as my improvement 1. The herein-described compass-indicatingornament for lightning-rods and weathervancs consisting of an armedhanger, and a support therefor, each arm having a ball hung free toswing in every direction and having fixed thereto an initialletterpvhereby to form a cluster of balls indicating the points of thecompass.

2. An ornamental compass-indicating device for Weather-vanes orlightning-rods, consisting of an armed hanger and a support therefor,each arm having a ball hung free to swing in every direction and to turnupon its connection With said hanger and having fixed thereto an initialletter and awind-indicator, whereby to form a cluster of balls each ofwhich indicates one of the points of the compass and the direction ofthe wind.

3. An ornamental device for 1i ghtning-rods and weather-vanes,consisting of an armed hanger and a sup port therefor, each arm having aball hung free to swing in every direction and to revolve, and providedwith surface ribs or fins whereby they are caused to be rotated by thewind.

4. For lightning-rods and weather-vanes, an ornamental device consistingof a cluster of balls each hung free to swing in every direction, andhaving an initial letter fixed at its lower side.

ALVIN J. MUNSON.

Vitnesses .TNo. W. KEALING, HARRY BoWsER.

